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Hundreds protest in Libya outside UN agency against undocumented migrants
TL;DR
Hundreds of Libyans protested outside the UNHCR headquarters in Tripoli, demanding the expulsion of undocumented migrants. They accused the UN agency of attempting to settle migrants in Libya and expressed their nationalistic sentiments through chants and signs.
Key points
- Hundreds protested outside UNHCR in Tripoli
- Protesters demand expulsion of undocumented migrants
- Libya has become a transit route for migrants since 2011
- UNHCR warned against hate speech and misinformation
- Protesters expressed nationalistic sentiments
Hundreds of Libyans have gathered outside the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) headquarters in Tripoli to protest against undocumented migrants that they say should leave Libya.
Protesters on Thursday chanted “Libya belongs to Libyans” and called for the closure of the UNHCR headquarters in the capital. They were seen holding signs reading: “Our love for our country is not racism” and “Libya is not the world’s garbage bin.”
Demonstrators accused the UN agency of seeking to settle undocumented migrants in the North African country.
Since a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, Libya has become a transit route for hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing conflict and poverty, often from sub-Saharan Africa, with many risking dangerous journeys across the desert or the Mediterranean.
The UN agency in Libya, UNSMIL, affirmed the rights of all Libyans to express their opinions, but warned about the spread of “misleading information and hate speech” regarding its work in the country, “which contributes to increased tensions and incitement against the UN national and international officials”.
Libyans take part in a demonstration in front of the UNHCR office in Tripoli on June 4, 2026, demanding the departure and closure of the UNHCR offices and declaring ‘No to foreign settlement in Libya’ [AFP]
UN agencies “are not implementing any programmes to resettle migrants in Libya and all claims against that are completely unhealthy”, the mission said in a statement on Thursday.
The UN High Commission for Refugees Affairs is “working to find solutions outside Libya for people fleeing wars, conflicts and persecution, including evacuation to third countries, and voluntary return to their countries when circumstances allow”, it added.
It also condemned any incitement of violence or threats targeting UN staff, as well as acts of vandalism and attacks on its personnel and property.
Thursday’s was the largest of several recent anti-migrant demonstrations in Libya, with some of the Libyan population beginning to blame them for social and economic problems that have become more visible during 15 years of conflict and political division in the North African country.
Q&A
What are the main reasons for the protests in Libya against undocumented migrants?
Protesters are demanding the expulsion of undocumented migrants, claiming that Libya should not be a settlement for them and expressing concerns about national identity.
How has Libya's role changed regarding migrants since the 2011 uprising?
Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, Libya has become a transit route for many migrants fleeing conflict and poverty, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa.
What was the UNHCR's response to the protests in Tripoli?
The UNHCR acknowledged the right of Libyans to express their opinions but cautioned against the spread of misleading information and hate speech that could incite tensions.
